When I was a young girl—and gosh, that was a long time ago—anything fragrant to spray
was called scent. Those slightly more exposed to the world called it perfume. The
Indian world of fragrances was limited both in product range and knowledge. The first
one I fell in love with was my father’s cologne rather than any of my mum’s perfumes.
For many years, it was my go-to. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing a
perfume; however, decision-making becomes easier when armed with the right
information.
In the vastness of human history, perfumery has a shorter but rich and interesting story,
spread across civilisations from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the
Chinese dynasties to modern-day France, which stands unrivalled in the art of
perfumery.
At the turn of the century, perfumes were derived from single flowers and were named
after the principal ingredient. Today, perfumes have complex structures, made of both
natural and synthetic chemicals, commonly referred to as ‘notes’. The first perfume
created using modern chemical principles with synthetic ingredients was as recent as
1921.
What started out as fuming with incense (Latin per fumum, meaning ‘through smoke’)
later became a way to mask body odours. Today, perfumes are the only true luxury. A
perfume, by its nature, is unique to you since fragrances sit differently on different
people. Your scent is unique to you.
Now that we are talking about scent, scent, perfume, and fragrance are terms often
used interchangeably. Even though they belong to the same universe, they are
technically different from each other.
Scent is a smell or an odour, generally pleasant, given off by a plant, animal, or human.
For example, the scent of sandalwood or, for that matter, the scent of a woman, as in
the iconic movie featuring Al Pacino. Although the British often use "scent" as a
synonym for "perfume," technically, a perfume has a scent.
Perfume, on the other hand, is a fluid prepared with natural and synthetic essences for
the purpose of emitting a pleasant smell. A fragrance is a combination of organic
compounds that produces a distinct smell or odour. In other words, a fragrance is what
gives the perfume its scent.
I know these read like tongue twisters, but none of it takes away from the fact that we all
love perfumes with a lasting scent.
Perfumes are more than just pleasant-smelling scents that make you smell good. They
are now an extension of your personality, your identity. The more options available, the
more niche they have become in terms of becoming a signature statement. Long gone
are the times when people were defined by and devoted to a single scent for life. People
now enjoy exploring scents and using a variety to make a statement. Perfumes have this
rare attribute to convey the unsaid. People wear fragrances to mirror their feelings,
elevate their moods, and express their whims!
Where we are today is a very evolved market in sheer terms of availability across the
spectrum, from deodorants on one end to perfumes on the other. The two categories
most commonly confused amongst these are Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum. The
French phrasing makes it all the more difficult to understand. The key difference is the
strength of the concentration of fragrant oils, which defines the characteristics of each.
Eau de Parfum (EdP), meaning "perfume water" (French "eau" is water, "parfum" is
perfume), carries a 12%-20% concentration of fragrance oils. It strikes the right balance
between intensity and versatility. EdPs offer longevity and last anywhere between six to
eight hours. As a rule of thumb to check longevity, allow a perfume to settle for at least
half an hour so it may fully develop.
Eau de Parfums are penultimate on the perfume spectrum, only one place away from
Parfum or Extrait de Parfum. They are more expensive than Eau de Toilettes because of
the higher concentration of perfume oils, the core of a perfume.
Eau de Toilette (EdT) literally means "water for washing and dressing," or toilet water,
also called grooming water. The phrase’s first known use was in 1907 and referred to
splashing oneself with fragrant water during the toilette, or the act of grooming oneself.
EdTs are designed to be milder, with an 8%-12% concentration of fragrant oils blended
into alcohol. They last a couple of hours and are great for everyday use. People who
may be allergic to stronger fragrances often opt for Eau de Toilettes.
No perfect perfume has been crafted to date; the only perfect scent is the one that
brings you pleasure. Lastly, don’t let the gender label deter you from exploring and
experimenting—you may be missing out on your ‘yet favourite’ perfume, for all you
know. I moved on from raiding my dad’s cologne to using my husband’s collection
when my heart so desires!